Heating tape



Jan. 5, 1943. a A. NEFF 2,307,231

HEATING TAPE Filed Dec. 16. 1940 H- li ii i f' Patented Jan. 5, 1943-- HEATING TAPE Edward A. Nefl, Chicago, 111., assignor to Phoenix Trimming Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 16, 1940, Serial No. 370,319

8 Claims.

This invention relates in general to a woven fabric tape having flexible electric resistance wire woven therein and constituting at least some of the weft threads thereof.

An important object of the invention is in the provision of a woven heating tape in which the wires are woven back and forth as weft threads to incorporate a suflicient length of wire in a tape to provide a suitable and sufficient electrical resistance.

A still further object of the invention is to weave resistance wires in a fabric tape as covered weft threads thereof expose only at the edges or turns of the wire.

A still further object of the invention is to incorporate flexible electrical resistance wires in a woven fabric tape in such a manner that the edges of the tape are free from the wires so that the tape can be sewn or otherwise attached by engaging the edges thereof without engaging the wires and breaking the electrical connection thereof.

A still further object of the invention is in the provision of an electrical heating tape which has conductor wires woven centrally therein, but not at the edges so that the tape may be readily and quickly stitched in place in coats, trousers, gloves, and other articles for heating or for wearing apparel.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the specification and will be apparent from the accompanying drawing in which Fig. l is a perspective view of a heating tape in accordance with this invention, stitched along the edges to another piece of fabric or other material;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail showing the thread structure of the heating tape;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view "of a modified form of heating tape; and I Fig. 5 is a sectional view thereof, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Although electric resistance wire has heretofore been incorporated in blankets, pads, gloves, and other articles of wearing apparel, one of the main objections has been the carrier and means of attaching a resistance wire and protecting it both from breakage due to bending, and due to the method of attaching the wire or carrier thereof. The present invention not only provides an improved woven tape in which the wire is always protected at opposite faces of the tape, but also the edges of the wires used as weft threads, are placed from the edges of the carrier tape so that these edges which are free of the resistance wire may be quickly stitched or otherwise fastened in place in clothing, pads, and the like without in any way damaging the electric wires or affecting the resistance theredistance inwardly from both edges are flexible covered conductor wires l0 arranged and slightly twisted in pairs, together forming a weft thread having exposed loops ll inwardly of the edges I! of the tape so that a line of stitching l3 may be applied along each marginal edge of the tape for easily sewing or otherwise securing it to a fabric I4 or other material to which the tape is attached. For example, instead of a continuous line of stitching, staples, rivets or other fastening device may be inserted at a distance along the margin l2 for rapidly attaching the tape to any suitable support.

In weaving this tape, any suitable method or style may be employed in which the weft portions of the resistance wire, but not the loops thereof, are incorporated in the fabric of the tape covering and protecting the wires at both sides of the tape, the wires being additionally insulated by the outer fabric covering. In the weave shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a warp thread A passes alternately over and under weft thread 9 and conductors It! with one space below the thread 9 and two spaces above the wires l0; warp threads B and C are likewise spaced to alternately engage above and below the weft threads 9 but not engaging the weft threads formed by the resistance wire l0.

Thus a complete enclosing weave is provided for the resistance wires except the loops ll thereof, the fabric of the tape being raised on one side and centrally thereof to enclose the weft thread portions of the resistance wire in transverse raised ribs or projections I5 in the proportion of two threads above and one other below, or engaged in the lower body portion of the tape.

Another form of the heating tape is shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5 in which the weaving of the warp threads 2|, 22 and 23 about the resistance wires in is in a mesh of three over and three under; that is, each warp thread passes on one side of the tape over three successive weft strands and then to the other side of the tape over three similar strands, the successive warp threads being, staggered in their over and under engagement to produce a closely woven upper and lower enclosure for the wires which are covered by the warp threads and the loops 24 of the wire are exposed at the edges only. A narrow heating tape of this type is particularly adapted for enclosing it in narrow plates such, for example, as the fingers of gloves, in mittens and in other locations .where it is neither desired nor necessary to sew or attach the tape at the edges thereof.

In both forms of this heating tape, the flexible conductor wire is woven into the tape as a part thereof, and has a continuous weft thread which makes it possible to incorporate a considerable length of resistance wire in a relatively short length of tape, since the wire is woven alternatelyback and forth and the parallel portions thereof are spaced apart so that there is no danger of short circuiting any of the coils or loops thereof. Even should the end loops I I come in contact with each other, they are covered or insulated and the amount of diiference in resistance drop or potential, due to the impressed electrical voltage, is so slight that there will be very little tendency to short circuit a coil or a few lengths of the resistance wire, thereby insuring that the proper circuit connection will be made and maintained.

With this tape, it is necessary only to determine the resistance from the heating effect desired for any particular length thereof, and then to provide the tape of that length. Any desired method of weaving may be employed, the important consideration being that the resistance wire be woven transversely thereof as a weft thread, that it be covered on both sides for insulation and protection, and that the tape be formed with a marginal portion by means of which it may be sewn or otherwise attached rapidly and in continuous lengths to another fabric or suitable carrier or support.

I claim:

1. A heating tape comprising a woven fabric having thin flexible wire woven therein and enclosed thereby except at the end turns of the: wire, the wire forming ribs of fabric at one side: only of the tape and constituting a part of the weft threads thereof.

2. In an electrical heating tape, a flexible woven fabric of warp and weft threads and a flexible resistance wire covered thereby and forming some of the weft threads thereof. the resistance wire being entirely covered in the ribs and forming transverse ribs at one side only of the fabric and exposed only at the turned edges of the wire.

3. An electrical heating tape comprising a flexible woven fabric, a flexible resistance wire woven therein and forming a portion of the weft threads of the fabric, the resistance wire forming ribs of the warp threads at one side of the tape and being entirely covered by the fabric except at the connecting curves at the ends of the ribs which terminate at adistance within the edges of the tape and providing a marginal edge entirely free of resistance wire.

4. An electrical heating tape comprising a flexible woven fabric, a flexibl resistance wire woven therein in making the fabric and constituting a portion of the weft threads thereof, the turns of the wire being at a distance within the edges of the fabric, the wire except the turns being covered on both sides by the fabric of the tape and forming transverse ribs of the warp threads at one side of the tape so that it is exposed only at the said turns which constitute a visible marker for defining the attaching edge portions which are free from wire.

5. The combination with a flexible heating tape and a flemble article to which it is attached, the tape comprising a woven fabric with a resistance wire incorporated therein in making the fabric as a part of the fabric, the wire forming raised ribs of the warp threads projecting. at one side but terminating at a distance within the inner edge of the tape marked by the exposed connecting turns of the wire, leaving the margin of the tape free from the wire and means for attaching the tape to the said article along the marginal edge which is free from wire.

6. In an electrical heating tape, a flexible woven fabric comprising an electric flexible resistance wire woven therein in making the fabric at one side of the tape, the resistance wire forming some of the weft threads for the central portion of the width of the tape, the wire forming raised transverse ribs at one side of the tape and being covered at both sides by the fabric of the tape and the composite tape being thicker along the center ribbed portion than at the marginal edges thereof.

7. In an electrical heating tape, a woven fabric comprising two layers woven together at the same time, one layer narrower than the other and applied along the center of the wider layer, the narrower layer incorporating a flexible reistance wire therein as a weft thread in making the fabric, the wire being covered by the fabric layers at both sides and forming transverse fabric ribs projecting only on the side of the narrower layer thereof and the wire being exposed only at the turns of the edges of the narrower layer, the edges of the wider layer being marked by the exposed turns as free from wire and adapted for stitching attachment thereby.

8. In an electrical heating tape, a flexible fabric comprising two layers, one wider than the other and woven together at the same time, and a flexible resistance wire woven therein in making the fabric and excepting the connecting turns constituting a part of the weft threads of both layers, the wire being covered at both sides by the layers forming raised transverse ribs at the side of the narrower layer and exposed only by the wire turns at the edges of the narrower layer at a distance inside of the edges of the wider layer, forming a central ribbed portion of increased thickness, and a marginal portion free from Wire at each edge of the tape for attachment to a support.

EDWARD A. NEFF. 

